ADRIAN — After almost 18 years in the detailing business, Doug Southwell has learned how to deal with the whole gamut of automotive stains, whether a driver has spilled the morning’s coffee on the carpet, parked under a maple tree and had sap shower down onto the exterior, or just about anything in between.

“In all my years of experience, I’ve seen a lot of things,” he said, laughing.

Southwell first started learning his craft working for Bob Poucher’s car dealership and Shine’s Auto Clean. But he had another teacher as well — his father, Ken, who has owned K&TS Tire in Palmyra for some 30 years.

“My dad always told me to be honest with your customers,” said Southwell, describing his father as “not just my dad, he’s my best friend.”

Southwell has brought all of that experience to bear with his own new business, Doug’s Detailing, which opened at 2415 E. U.S. 223 — in the same location as Autos Unlimited — in early September.

He operates the shop with his wife, Cindy, serving as president. “Cindy was really supportive of me starting the business,” he said. “My family has really tried to help me out. They’ve even been working on bringing in customers.”

He also got some valuable support from Autos Unlimited’s Eric Anderson and Anderson’s mother, Cricket, in giving him a place to operate his business. “They’re like a second family to me,” he said.

Southwell offers a complete range of cleaning services for both exterior and interior, including several packages. Until the end of January, he is offering a special package that includes buffing, waxing, sweeping out the interior and cleaning the windows. The special costs $50 for cars, pickups and small SUVs, and $60 for full-sized vans and SUVs.

A basic package of services including washing the vehicle, cleaning the windows and dash, and sweeping the floor, is $25 or $30 depending on vehicle size.

Gift certificates are available. All business is cash-only.

Southwell can do anything from just a buff and wax job all the way up to a complete detailing, which includes not only the vehicle exterior and passenger compartment but the trunk and engine compartment as well.

Wherever possible, he tries to get vehicles done the same day customers bring them in. It takes about three hours to do a buffing and waxing and clean the interior, while a complete detailing job takes in the neighborhood of 31⁄2 to four hours.

No matter what the job is, “I make sure everything is perfect,” he said. “I’ve told customers, ‘Your car is mine now,’” and he works hard to make the vehicle look as good as it possibly can. “I make your car look like new,” he said.

Page 2 of 2 - To that end, he does a lot of hand buffing. “It takes longer, but I get the job done,” he said.

“My main goal is to be at the top (of the business), and to keep my customers coming back.”

Doug’s Detailing is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made by calling Southwell at 902-9628. The business is also on Facebook, or Southwell can be reached by email at dougsdetailing2012@aol.com.

This article was written based on information provided by the business.

Lenawee in Business is a feature of The Daily Telegram business page for new businesses and businesses celebrating a major anniversary. If you have a story for a Lenawee in Business, call assistant news editor Sue Van Fleet at 265-5111, ext. 259, or email sue@lenconnect.com.